A social club disguised as book club
We read together, we review together.
Finished it, half-finished it, started it on the tram this morning: you’re in.
— The start of Her half-read book club
/01
“I started a book club so I could talk to more people about the things I was reading. Turns out books are the perfect firestarter for a friendship.”
Cherylle van Kuijk
That one that promotes the half reading
Her half-read book club started in July 2026 in Amsterdam, because I’d just finished a book I could not shut up about. And my friends? All reading something else.
So I started a club where we read the same thing, at the same time, use our WhatsApp group as our shared notes app, and get to be dramatic about fictional people together.
And soon I found out… Books are so much more. They function as the perfect firestarter for the conversations I crave to have. Those deep, long ones you might not come across often in your day to day life.
Well, with HHRBC, we facilitate these at least once a month.
— Type of book clubs
/02
One book, multiple events a month, all of it run from one WhatsApp group. A world of books in your pocket, easy peasy.
Still scrolling?
Babe, just join the club already!
— Process
/03
We read, we talk, we review. Here’s what every edition looks like, from Monthly to Seasonal.
Everything happens in our WhatsApp group.
1. Pick & choose
Seasonal read, monthly read, or a read-in. Take what fits your mood, need and reading pace.
2. Join the club
After joining the main Whatsapp group, look for “OPEN TO JOIN” in the group title. Clubs open on the first day of the month and close on the last day. Don’t forget to check if you can join the date of the Book Review!
3. Closed & active
Once we kick off, the title flips to “CLOSED – Active”. You can’t join a running club, so grab the next one. We introduce ourselves, run through the club rules, and make sure everybody is available for the date for The Book Review. Online or offline depends on who’s in & the book.
5. Read, review, repeat
Read as far as you get, half-read is enough. Then The Book Review: about an hour, optional drinks after. The group turns “DONE” and we all move on to the next one.
Join the club
Experience it yourself. Join the book club, pick a date that matches your interest and… Make a whole group of new friends over good conversation!
— FAQ
/04
Just a couple of questions you might have.
Everything runs through WhatsApp. Join the main group first (click here). You are now part of Her half-read book club and can pick which books you’d like to read together.
From there you’ll see every club that opens or is open to join. Either in the announcements or in the overview of the community chat.
Look for “OPEN TO JOIN” in the group title, tap in, and you’re part of that edition. Clubs open on the first day of the month and close the last day of the month.
We always come together in the 4th week of the month. Often the date is shared in the title of the group.
Joining the club comes with some commitments to be there as well, so you always get to check your calendar first!
Coming.
When the club opens, you can see this as your temporary new potential friend group. We cannot wait to get to know you better!
So signing up means you’re in for The Book Review. And when you join a Seasonal club often a few extra things we build around the book like a museum visit, a dinner, a film night, a borrel.
So check your agenda before you join, not after. We’re a small group and we notice who’s missing – as we were looking forward to your view on the story, the theme of the book.
Think of it like a group of friends holding a chair for you. We’ll miss you if you don’t join, nobody’s angry if something comes up, but tell us upfront instead of on the night.
*Bookclubs with less than 8-10 people in RSVP can’t continue.
Seasonal read
One book, one season, three months, around 4-3 meet-ups. The high-engagement one.
Monthly read
One book, one month, one review at the end. Every new edition opens on the 1st.
Read-in
Every second Sunday. Bring whatever you’re reading, we sit, we read, we get coffee. No active book club required.
Book & Mingle
Social event, no shared book, just each other. Can have different natures. Most often you fill in a few questions beforehand, get matched with someone who thinks like you. Several rounds, depending on turnout.
The Book Review
The closing session of a club. About an hour, online or offline, optional drinks after.
OPEN TO JOIN / CLOSED – Active / DONE
The three stages of a group title. Open, running, wrapped.
Correct!
Half-read is enough, it’s all in the name! Every Review opens with a Summary you can read, so nobody is sitting there lost.
Showing up matters more than finishing. We’re just using the books as firestarters for real conversations anyway!
— Books we read
/05
Curious what event is what? Read more about what types of events we have.
— contact
/06
Anything that doesn’t belong in the book club is best sent here:
info@herhalfreadbookclub.com